Industry News
Mount Snow’s longtime community daycare, a staple in Vermont’s Deerfield Valley for more than 20 years, is changing how it operates. This move has left some families frustrated and seeking answers.
The Vail Resorts-owned resort says the daycare isn’t closing but shifting to an employee-led model that prioritizes care for Mount Snow workers. Sixteen families in the community are directly affected, though others may join a waitlist. The center will still offer drop-in care for weekend and holiday guests.
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Resort leaders say running the community daycare had become financially unsustainable due to strict state staffing ratios, class size limits, and caps on tuition increases. They say the company will continue operating the program for employees at a loss to ensure reliable childcare for staff.
Parents say they were given little notice and worry the change will make it harder for local families to work during the busy winter season. For decades, the center has supported parents in Dover, Wilmington, Wardsboro, and nearby towns where childcare options are already scarce. A petition is calling for a public meeting, more transparency, and a plan to restore or replace the program. Mount Snow says the decision was made locally after reviewing several alternatives but finding none that could eliminate the losses tied to running community childcare.
Vermont’s childcare shortage is well-documented. A 2023 state report estimated gaps in childcare access cost Vermont about $195 million a year in lost earnings and productivity. The state has also lost nearly 60 percent of its home-based providers since 2012, with rural towns being hit the hardest.
Petition organizers want Mount Snow to delay the change until after ski season and work with local leaders on long-term solutions. Mount Snow says its focus remains on supporting employees while maintaining guest childcare during peak periods.
For now, the future of Mount Snow’s daycare remains uncertain. What’s clear is that the issue goes beyond one resort and reflects the growing strain on Vermont families trying to balance work, childcare, and community life. Whether through new partnerships, public investment, or corporate cooperation, many in the Deerfield Valley hope this moment sparks a larger conversation about how to sustain the families who keep mountain towns running year-round.
